American plug-in hybrid automaker Fisker Automotive has been through some tough times since losing its Department of Energy loan. More than 300 Karmas were destroyed by hurricane Sandy - and they weren't covered by the insurance company - its battery supplier filed for bankruptcy, and 75 percent of its employees were laid off in April. There have been more issues, but you get the point...

Although the split front grille may not be to everyone's liking, by and large the overall shape of the Fisker Karma is what defines it as much as its hybrid propulsion system. The trouble is, packaging two powertrains into one lithe shape penned by the same designer behind the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the BMW Z8 has left the Karma with little in the way of useable trunk space. That's what prompted Fisker to showcase the Surf concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.

Although the split front grille may not be to everyone's liking, by and large the overall shape of the Fisker Karma is what defines it as much as its hybrid propulsion system. The trouble is, packaging two powertrains into one lithe shape penned by the same designer behind the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the BMW Z8 has left the Karma with little in the way of useable trunk space. That's what prompted Fisker to showcase the Surf concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.

Ahead of its official unveiling at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Fisker Automotive bosses had us up to a studio in Munich for a thorough advance viewing and info download on their second model, a shooting brake called Surf.